Vacuum relief chute for a trash receptacle or the like

ABSTRACT

A receptacle has sidewalls and a bottom defining an open ended volume. The open end of the receptacle is located at the top of the receptacle. The receptacle relieves a vacuum using a vacuum relief chute that extends from the top of the receptacle towards the bottom of said receptacle and defines an open passage therein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/611,047 filed Sep. 17, 2004, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The field of the invention is trash receptacles, including kitchen trash bins, and compacting machines that use bags or other liners within the outer container.

BACKGROUND

A vacuum often forms between a bag and a receptacle, or stacked receptacles (such as five gallon plastic paint buckets) that can be difficult to overcome when removing the bag from the receptacle or receptacles from a stack. Overcoming the vacuum during removal causes stress on the bag, receptacle, and person doing the removing, which can result in damage or injury. This invention seeks to address the vacuum problem while minimizing the cost of such receptacles, which are often inexpensive. Its further goal is to retain the overall functionality of such a receptacle.

SUMMARY

This is accomplished by insuring no vacuum can form in the bottom of the receptacle in the first place. The various embodiments described herein accomplish this by connecting the bottom of the receptacle to atmosphere.

To that end, the inventive receptacle has sidewalls and a bottom defining an open ended volume. The open end of the receptacle is located at the top of the receptacle. The receptacle relieves a vacuum using a vacuum relief chute that extends from the top of the receptacle towards the bottom of said receptacle and defines an open passage therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1A and 2A are isometric and top views of an alternate version of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial isometric view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7A is an isometric view of an alternate version of the fourth embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 8A is a partial isometric view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9A is an elevation view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 10A is a top view of FIG. 7A.

FIGS. 8B and 9B are partial isometric and elevation views of an alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a fifth embodiment of a receptacle.

FIG. 12 is a top view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a sixth embodiment of a receptacle, unassembled.

FIG. 14 is a top view of FIG. 13, unassembled.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 13 with the chute assembled.

FIG. 16 is a top view of FIG. 13 with the chute assembled.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a seventh embodiment of the receptacle.

FIG. 18 is a second isometric view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a top view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a partial top view of an eighth embodiment of the receptacle in unassembled form.

FIG. 21 is a second partial top view of FIG. 20, partially assembled.

FIG. 22 is a third partial top view of FIG. 20, fully assembled.

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of a ninth embodiment of the receptacle in unassembled form.

FIG. 24 is a second isometric view of FIG. 23, assembled.

FIG. 25 is an isometric view of a tenth embodiment of the receptacle in unassembled form.

FIG. 26 is a second isometric view of FIG. 25, assembled.

FIG. 27 is an isometric view of an eleventh embodiment of the receptacle in unassembled form.

FIG. 28 is a second isometric view of FIG. 27, assembled.

FIG. 29 is an isometric view of a twelfth embodiment of the receptacle in unassembled form.

FIG. 30 is a second isometric view of FIG. 29, assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The invention described herein relieves the vacuum build-up in a trash receptacle 10 using one of several embodiments. The receptacle 10 of each embodiment has several common features, including a bottom panel 12 opposite an open top 20, and sidewalls 14 having inner faces 16, and outer faces 18. The sidewalls 14 and bottom 12 define an inner volume 26 for receiving a bag 11, as opposed to the outer volume 28 located outside of the inner volume 26. Further, the receptacles shown are all rectangular, and have corners 24, although it should be understood that other receptacles could be round or polygonal.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention. An open chute 30 runs down the inner face 16 until it terminates just short of the bottom panel 12, connecting the bottom of the chute 30 to atmosphere through a passage 32. When a person pulls a plastic bag from the receptacle 10, the chute 30 connected to atmosphere at the top 20 of the receptacle prevents vacuum build-up.

The chute 30 is located in a corner 24 of the receptacle, which is a convenient location but multiple chutes 30, or chutes 30 located at positions other than the corners 24, may be preferable. FIGS. 1A and 2A show an alternate version of the first embodiment, in which the chute 30 is rectangularly shaped, and located away from the corner of the receptacle 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the invention in which a chute 40 extends from inside the receptacle 26 to outside the receptacle 28 through the lip 22. The chute 40 has two openings at the top 20 and towards the bottom 12 of the receptacle 10. The top opening 42 is located on the outside of the receptacle 28 and extends through the lip 22, while the bottom opening 44 is located on the inside of the receptacle 26. Thus the chute 40 extends through the sidewall 14. In use, the chute 42 prevents vacuum buildup in the same way that the first embodiment does, without compromising packing space inside the receptacle 10.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the invention in which vacuum relief chutes 50 are embedded within the sidewall 14 of the receptacle 10. The sidewall is double walled, with an outside wall 14 a and an inside wall 14 b. The inside wall 14 b extends downward from the top 20 of the receptacle 10, but terminates at a bottom edge 54 before it reaches the bottom 12. A joining member 14 c separates and joins the inside wall 14 b and outside wall 14 a, creating multiple passages 50 running from the top 20 of the receptacle towards the bottom 12 of same. The advantage of this design is that multiple receptacles 10 can be easily stacked during shipping and in retail sales. In use, the chute 50 prevents vacuum buildup by connecting the space underneath the bag near the edge 54 to atmosphere.

FIGS. 7-10 show a fourth embodiment of the invention using a double walled design. The inside wall 64 is spaced apart from the outside wall 68 to create a single large chute 60 along one wall of the receptacle 10. The space between the inner wall 64 and the outer wall 68 helps to create the opening for the vacuum relief chute 60. This chute 60 runs from the lip 22 all the way to the bottom of the receptacle. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner wall 64 and the outer wall 68 do not touch, and in fact leave an opening or discontinuity 60 a over the entire inner wall 64 of the receptacle 10. This discontinuity 60 a connects the inner volume 26 of the receptacle 10 to the outer volume 28 of the receptacle 10, which relieves the vacuum built up during removal of the bag 11 from the receptacle 10.

FIGS. 7A-10A show an alternate version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10, in which the discontinuity 60 b is located along a bottom edge of the inner wall 64, and opens to atmosphere through a second discontinuity 68 a in the lip 22 on the outside wall 68. The chute 60 joins the discontinuities 60 b, 68 a, which relieves vacuum buildup during bag removal.

In both of the double wall versions of the embodiments, the walls could have spaced-apart reinforcements 67 between them to keep them from permanently deforming. Such reinforcements are shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fifth embodiment of the invention in which ridges 70 create multiple channels 72 venting the bottom 12 of the receptacle 10 to atmosphere. These ridges 70 could comprise the entirety of the inner walls 16, or just portions thereof. The channels serve to connect the inner volume 26 of the receptacle to the outer volume 28 of the receptacle 10, which relieves the vacuum built up during bag 11 removal.

FIGS. 13-16 show a sixth embodiment of the invention in which the chute 80 is formed by pressing fitted knob 84 within complementary channels 84 in the inner sidewall 16 to form the final chute 80 with a passage 82 therein; FIGS. 13 and 14 show the chute 80 unassembled, and FIGS. 15 and 16 show the chute 80 assembled. Like many of the other embodiments, the chute 80 does not extend to the bottom 12 of the receptacle 10. A primary advantage of this embodiment is that the receptacles 10 could be easily stacked, when the chute is unformed.

FIGS. 17-19 show a seventh embodiment of the invention in which the air passage 92 is formed in a corner 24 of the receptacle 10 by the proximity between a protrusion 90 and the corner 24. As best seen in FIG. 19, the protrusion 90 is preferably formed from the inner wall 16, however, the protrusion 90 could be a solid cross section. During bag 11 removal, the air passage 92 joins the inner volume 26 with the outer volume 28 to relieve vacuum build-up.

FIGS. 20-22 show an eighth embodiment of the invention in which the air passage 182 is formed when chute 180 is pressed outwards from the inner wall 16. The successive FIGS. 20-22 show the formation of the passage 182 which connects the bottom 12 of the receptacle 10 to the top of same. For the convenience of showing the chute 180, the lip 22 is not shown in FIGS. 20-23, it being understood that such a lip is usable therewith.

FIGS. 23-30 show retrofit versions of the chute usable with a traditional receptacle. In these embodiments, the chute is fit on or within the receptacle to form the vacuum relief chute and passage. The advantage of such embodiments is that the retrofit chutes can be sold separately for use with any receptacle, or can be sold with the receptacle for easy replacement by the user.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show one such embodiment, the ninth embodiment of the vacuum relief chute using an insert 400 that works similar to the first embodiment above. The insert 400 has a vacuum relief chute 410 with a passage 412 therethrough. The bottom opening 414 is mounted above the bottom 12 of the receptacle 10 when mounted (see FIG. 24). During mounting, the sidewalls of the vacuum chute 410 are joined to the inner walls 16 of the receptacle 10 by adhesive or mechanical fasteners.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show an tenth embodiment of the vacuum relief chute, which shows an insert 100 that works similar to the third embodiment above. The insert 100 has a passage 112 between opposed sidewalls 110, and the passage 112 extends between the top 20 of the receptacle 10 and the bottom 12 thereof, and the passage 112 has a bottom opening 114 thereon. In the assembled form shown in FIG. 24, the insert 100 may be attached within the receptacle 10 using an adhesive or mechanical fastener between sidewalls 100 or edge 111 and the inner wall 16 of the receptacle 10.

FIGS. 27 and 28 show an eleventh embodiment of the vacuum relief chute using an insert 300 that works similar to the fifth embodiment above. The insert 300 has ridges 310 and channels 312 that form the vacuum relief chute. Flanges 316 on the insert 300 join with the inner walls 16 of the receptacle 10, using an adhesive or mechanical fastener.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show a twelfth embodiment of the vacuum relief chute, using an insert 200 that works similar to the seventh embodiment above. The insert 200 forms a passage 212 near the corner 24 of the receptacle 10. Flanges 216 on the insert 200 join with the inner walls 16 of the receptacle 10, using an adhesive or mechanical fastener.

Although the invention has been shown with a rectangular receptacle, the vacuum relief chutes herein could be used in circular or other shaped receptacles. Further, lids and the like could be used with the receptacle in any of the known manner of lids and tops used in receptacles. 

1. A trash receptacle for receiving a bag comprising: a bottom surface and sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom to define an inner volume of the receptacle, at least one of the sidewalls having a chute connecting the inner volume to an outer volume outside the inner volume.
 2. A receptacle for receiving a bag comprising: sidewalls and a bottom defining an open ended volume, the open end being a top of the receptacle; a vacuum relief chute extending from the top of the receptacle towards the bottom of said receptacle, said chute defining an open passage.
 3. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein the passage opens at either of two ends of the chute, located at the top and near the bottom of the receptacle respectively.
 4. The receptacle of claim 3, wherein the chute is located at a corner of the receptacle.
 5. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein multiple chutes are located at multiple corners of the receptacle.
 6. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein the chute is located along a sidewall of the receptacle.
 7. The receptacle of claim 3, wherein the end of the chute located at the top of the receptacle is outside of the inner volume, and the end of the chute located at the bottom of the receptacle is within the inner volume.
 8. The receptacle of claim 7, wherein the chute passes through the sidewall.
 9. The receptacle of claim 3, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the receptacle comprises an inside wall joined by a joining member to an outside wall, the inside wall and outside wall being spaced apart from each other to define the chute therebetween.
 10. The receptacle of claim 9, wherein multiple joining members define multiple chutes between the inner wall and outer wall.
 11. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein the vacuum relief chute is formed between parallel sidewalls, an interior one of which has an open discontinuity along a portion thereof.
 12. The receptacle of claim 3, wherein the chute is formed by a protrusion adjacent the inner wall of the receptacle, and the passage is defined between the protrusion and the inner wall.
 13. The receptacle of claim 3, wherein the chute is removable.
 14. The receptacle of claim 13, wherein the chute is defined by a removable insert that engages the sidewall.
 15. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein a second identical receptacle can be substantially held within the receptacle of claim
 2. 16. A receptacle for receiving a bag comprising: sidewalls and a bottom defining an open ended volume, the open end being a top of the receptacle; a vacuum relief ridges extending from the top of the receptacle towards the bottom of said receptacle, said ridges defining open channels therein.
 17. A receptacle for receiving a bag comprising a means for relieving a vacuum buildup in the bottom of said receptacle when a bag is removed therefrom.
 18. A receptacle for receiving a bag comprising: at least one sidewall and a bottom defining an open ended volume inside the receptacle and a volume outside the receptacle; a vacuum relief element joining the open ended volume inside the receptacle to the volume outside the receptacle. 